At the beginning of the current week, the Ministry of Defence and the British Army, together with the companies involved in the programme, conducted the first live-fire trials on British soil with the new Challenger 3 main battle tank. These trials add to those carried out during 2024 in Germany, marking progress in the efforts to modernise the country’s main battle tank. However, beyond the milestone achieved, several questions remain in light of the current role of armoured warfare and its performance in high-intensity conflicts, including the number of vehicles slated for modernisation and the industrial capacities available.
The first test of its kind conducted in the United Kingdom in more than 30 years
On 20 January, the consortium led by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) confirmed that live-fire and evaluation trials had been carried out with the new Challenger 3.
In addition to testing one of the key components of the MBT modernisation programme—namely the installation of the new 120 mm Rheinmetall L55A1CR3 smoothbore gun, which replaces the L30A1 rifled gun of the same calibre fitted to the Challenger 2—these trials marked the first time in more than 30 years that an activity of this nature has been conducted in the United Kingdom.
Speaking on behalf of the consortium, RBSL Managing Director Rebecca Richards stated: “This is a hugely significant achievement for the Challenger 3 programme and a testament to the skill and dedication of the teams delivering it. Firing the vehicle first remotely and then with a crew in the turret reflects the enormous amount of work that has gone into ensuring the design is safe, robust and ready. This shows just how far the programme has progressed and marks a proud moment for UK armoured vehicle development.”
For his part, the British Army’s Senior Responsible Owner for the programme, Mark Colley, said: “This milestone reflects the benefits of the close collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and industry. The successful crewed firing of Challenger 3 demonstrates tangible progress in delivering the modernised main battle tank the British Army needs.”
A new gun
The adoption of a smoothbore gun such as the L55A1CR3, developed and manufactured by Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions, is no minor detail, as the consortium clarified in its statement that it enables the use of “…some of the most advanced kinetic-energy anti-tank ammunition, as well as programmable multi-purpose ammunition.”
It should also be noted that this type of gun, unlike rifled barrels, provides a higher muzzle velocity as the projectile exits the barrel. The increased muzzle velocity results in greater penetration capability and, depending on the type of ammunition, can also extend the weapon’s effective range.
In this regard, the adoption of the new gun enables the Challenger 3 to employ a wide range of new munitions available, certified and qualified under NATO standards, such as Rheinmetall’s DM63 and DM73 APFSDS rounds. It is even possible to speculate about the potential use of the US-made M829A4 depleted uranium round, which could replace the L27A1 CHARM 3 currently in service on the Challenger 2 within the British Army.
Doubts and certainties looking ahead
There is no doubt that conducting the first live-fire trials of the Challenger 3 on home soil is an encouraging sign for the renewal of the British Army’s armoured fleet, which has undergone years of underinvestment in this segment. However, the current realities of armoured warfare in high-intensity conflicts—clearly demonstrated by the war in Ukraine—cast a shadow of caution and uncertainty over the programme.
First and foremost, attention must be drawn to the number of tanks included in the modernisation effort. The upgrade of a total of 148 Challenger 2 tanks to the Challenger 3 standard, including eight prototypes developed for testing and evaluation, appears limited—no minor issue given the high attrition rates armoured fleets can suffer in modern warfare.
Although the RBSL consortium has mentioned the technical possibility of restarting Challenger production, the final number ordered by the British Ministry of Defence remains a source of uncertainty.
Another issue raised by various analysts concerns the increase in weight of the Challenger 3 compared to its predecessor. The adoption of new systems, with a strong emphasis on crew protection and survivability—including the Israeli-made Trophy Active Protection System (APS)—comes at the cost of increased overall weight.
For comparison, Challenger 2 tanks equipped with all their protection systems weigh approximately 82.7 tonnes, nearly ten tonnes more than the US Army’s main MBT, the M1A2 SEPv3, which weighs 73.6 tonnes. This is a significant factor, as the Challenger 3 will be even heavier than its predecessor, without the introduction of a more powerful new engine to offset the overall increase in weight.
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